Sydney, Nov. 11 (ANI): Veteran ABC radio commentator Jim Maxwell has warned that Cricket Australia needs to get tough with its cricketers who insist on playing in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League and no longer issue them lucrative contracts.

Concerned about the future health of Test cricket and the performance of the Australian national team, Maxwell also fears the game is at risk because "marketing people" are increasingly calling the shots and have been seduced by T20 and revenue from T20-mad India.

"It is the real test. It runs the risk of being a bit overwhelmed by the desire for greater audiences, greater revenue," the Sydney Morning herald quoted Maxwell, as saying.

"If Cricket Australia really wants to protect its interests and its players, I would have thought they would say to those who wish to go and play in the IPL [Indian Premier League], 'OK, well you're no longer on contract, you'll be paid match by match'," he added.

According to the paper, the comments follow an article in the new ABC Cricket magazine, where Maxwell writes of players being distracted by the rewards of the IPL.

However, chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, Paul Marsh, said that Maxwell's view was not substantial.

"The suggestion that players should have their Cricket Australia contracts ripped up if they play in the IPL is neither realistic or sensible," he said.

"Whilst I agree that the players' No.1 priority continues to be Test cricket, the reality is that there are now three forms of the game and the players have been strongly encouraged by those running the game ... to play all three form," he added. (ANI)